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WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  873-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 
Microfiche 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notss/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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y 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□    Covers  damaged/  v 

Couverture  endommagde 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminatnd/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculie 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

[      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.a.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


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Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  rastaur^es  et/ou  pellicul6es 


0 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu^es 


j — "1    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualit^  indgale  de  {'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materi< 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 


I     1    Showthrough/ 

I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

j      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 


□    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int6rieu>e 


D 


D 


Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
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mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6X6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplementaires: 


D 
D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  d«sponiblfi 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc,  have  been  refilmed  to 
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Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
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obtenir  la  msiMeure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  f'lm6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


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20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


tails 

du 
odifier 

une 
mage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  yenerosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmd  f ut  reproduit  grflce  d  fa 
g6n6ro8it6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plu9  grand  soin,  nompte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


n 


32X 


Original  copies  in  printed  r  aper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
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first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —•►(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  oxemplaireu  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  inprimde  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  pra^nier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  eKemplaires 
orig'naux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  an  terMinant  pur 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  appaioitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  clich6,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  hcut  en  bas,  eu  prenai.%  le  nomSre 
d'imagos  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


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U  A  N  A  D  A 


Club, 

Its  Purpose  and  Policy. 


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AS   SET   FORTH   IN    THE   SPEECH   OF 

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DOMINION  DAY  DINNES, 


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The 

Canadtan 

Club, 

Its  Purpose  and  Policy. 


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AS   SET    FORTH    IN    THE   SPEECH    OF 


:EIIA.STUS  ^VIMASN,  JPrestdent. 

DOMINION  DA  Y  DINNER, 


July  7,  i88s. 


■■'-;,■■-'.                                                                     '■■'-.'''* 

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^PRINTED  FOR  THE  CLUB. 

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"l^iPIPP«WW"*l»f"'».IWIIi» 


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OFFICERS: 


President, 

ERASTUS  WIMAN. 


Vice-Presidents, 

Sir  RODERICK  CAMERON. 

Hon.  Z.  S.  HUNTINGTON, 

Treasurer, 

WILLIAM  B.  ELLISON, 

22g  Broadway. 
Secretary, 

W.  A.  SHORT T 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE  : 
Erastus  Wiman.  Hon.  L.  S.  Huntington. 

William  B.  Ellison.  William  A.  Shortt. 

T.  W.  Griffith.  Dr.  G.  C.  Brown. 

Dr.  S.  R.  Ellison.  Hugh  M.  Morrow. 

MEMBERSHIP  COMMITTEE  : 
R.  B.  CuMMiNGS,  M.  D.,  Ontario. 
G.  M.  Fairchild,  Jr.,  Quebec. 
Henry  R.  Smith,  New  Brunswick. 
Arnold  G.  Gates,  Nova  Scotia. 
M.  W.  Meagher,  Manitoba. 


CLUB  ROOMS: 
No.  3  North  Washington  Square,  New  York. 


mmmum 


New  York,  July  8,  1885. 


To   ERASTUS    WIMAN, 

President  Canadian  Club. 

DEAR  SIR  — 

In  view  of  the  necessity  of  presenting  to  our  fellow  countrymen 

the  claims  of  the  "  Canadian  Club  "  upon  their  consideration,  and  also 
to  set  forth  the  object  to  be  accomplished,  and  the  policy  it  is  wise  to 
pursue,  it  is  thought  necessary  to  make  some  presentation  of  these,  in 
pamphlet  form.  We  know  nothing  that  would  do  this  better  than  the 
speech  -ou  made  at  the  dinner,  given  on  the  opening  night.  Dominion 
Day.     We  therefore  request  permission  to  publish  it  as  among  the  first 

proceedings  of  the  club. 

Faithfully  yours. 

J.  Paton, 
H.  Hague, 
L.  S.  Huntington, 
William  B.  Ellison, 
AND  others. 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  CANADIAN  CLUB. 


»-♦- 


The  Canadian  Club,  which  was  recently  formed  in  New 
York,  was  opened  on  Wednesday  night,  July  ist.  Dominion 
Day.  The  occasion  was  celebrated  by  a  dinner  of  the 
principal  members,  who  crowded  the  fine  rooms  which  have 
been  provided  for  the  Club  in  the  new  Artist  Building, 
No.  3  Washington  Square.  The  objects  to  be  accomplished 
by  the  formation  of  the  Club,  and  the  general  policy  which 
it  is  likely  to  pursue,  were  fully  discussed.  Perhaps  the 
most  complete  view  of  these  is  to  be  found  in  the  speech 
of  the  President,  as  follows  : 

Mr.  Erastus  Wiman  said  :  When  it  was  first  suggested 
that  a  club  distinctively  Canadian  should  be  formed  in  New 
York,  there  were  some  who  felt  that  the  attempt  might  not 
be  attended  with  complete  success,  and  that  the  objects 
which  could  be  accomplished  were  both  vague  and  uncer- 
tain. It  was  felt  that,  as  there  existed  no  other  organization 
of  similar  import  in  this  city,  it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt 
a  combination  of  interests  peculiarly  Canadian.  There  was 
no  Texas  or  Missouri  Club,  nor  no  Ohio  or  Pennsylvania 
Society  ;  and  except  the  New  England  Society,  which  only 
dined  together  once  a  year,  there  was  no  organization  dis- 
tinctively geographical,  which  should  have  for  its  care  the 
interests  of  the  residents  in  New  York  from  any  special 
locality.  Nevertheless,  finding  that  there  were  somewhere 
about  six  thousand  Canadians  in  New  York,  and  that  a  very 
large  proportion   of   these   were  almost   unknown    to   each 


The  Canadian   Club  : 


other,  it  was  felt  that  some  central  organization,  which  would 
enable  a  number  of  them  to  be  brought  together,  would  be 
productive  of  most  beneficial  results,  and  that  there  might  be 
worked  out  of  the  idea,  a  mission  of  practical  usefulness  that 
would  be  helpful  to  all  who  would  come  within  its  radius. 
Accordingly,  as  you  are  aware,  a  meeting  was  called  of  the 
Canadian  residents  in  New  York  at  the  Hotel  Brunswick. 
The  attendance  was  surprisingly  large,  and,  what  was  more, 
surprisingly  representative  in  character.  It  is  doubtful  if 
ever  a  meeting  was  held  tor  the  purpose  of  forming  a  club  or 
society,  which  was  attended  by  a  larger  number  of  persons, 
occupying  positions  of  greater  importance,  and  representing 
respectability  and  capacity  to  a  greater  extent.  The  first 
and  subsequent  meetings  indicated  an  earnestness  and  en- 
thusiasm which  was  a  revelation  to  those  who  had  originated 
the  idea,  and  imbued  them  with  the  importance  of  their  mis- 
sion, and  the  possibility  of  great  usefulness  and  eventual 
success.  You  see  the  results  of  those  meetings  in  the  beau- 
tit  ul  rooms  which,  after  infinite  labor,  the  committee  have 
selected  and  secured,  and  also  in  the  present  brilliant  assem- 
bly, which,  to  my  mind,  is  quite  as  representative  in  charac- 
ter as  any  other  assembly  which  I  have  had  the  good  fortune 
for  many  years  to  meet. 

The  period  which  has  elapsed  since  the  Club  was  first  dis- 
cussed, and  the  present  hour,  has  had  the  eifect  of  solidifying 
in  the  minds  of  all  interested  in  it,  the  purposes  to  be  accom- 
plished, and  of  giving  some  definite  shape  and  form  to  the 
scope  and  policy  it  would  be  wise  to  pursue. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  clear  to  all  who  are  familiar  with 
the  position  of  Canadians  in  this  city,  that  they  are  workers^ 
that  they  come  to  this  vast  metropolis  from  a  foreign  country, 
for  the  avowed  purpose  of  making  a  living,  and  a  fortune, 
and  becoming  useful  and  reputable  residents  of  the  great 


Its  Purpose  and  Policy.  7 

city  that  so  heartily  welcomes  them.     In  the  pursuit  of  these 
desirable   objects,  it  is   ecjually  clear   that  economy,  gdod 
habits,  sobriety,  and  intelligence,  will  be  the  basis  which  will 
command  success.  As  a  rule,  Canadians  here  are  in  moderate 
circumstances,  and  in  this  city  the  proportion  of  expense  to 
the  amount  of  income  is,  as  you  all  know,  excessive.     Hence, 
the  idea  in  forming  the  Club  has  been  to  make  the  cost  as 
slight  as  possible,  so  that,  in  no  sense,  would  it  be  an  added 
tax  upon  the  resources  of  those  to  whom  it  was  intended  to 
be  useful.     The  majority  of  our  members  will  doubtless  be 
**mployees,  in  the  receipt  of  regular  and  not  excessive  income. 
To  such  as  occupy  this  position,  it  is  hoped  the  Club  will  be 
a  real  use.     The  initiation  fee  of  $5.00,  and  annual  dues  of 
$10.00,  are  smaller  than  those  of  any  other  club  in  the  city. 
The  membership  will  be  necessarily  limited,  yet,  in  the  face 
of  this  small  sum  and  limited  membership,  we  will,  we  think, 
be  able  to  afford   quarters   and   club   privileges,   almost   as 
luxurious,  and  certainly  as  useful,  as  those  of  the  great  clubs 
whose  admission  will  be  ten  times  that  of  ours,  and  whose 
annual  dues  and  charges  would  almost  eat  up  the  surplus  of 
the  average  worker,  whom  we  hope  to  welcome  to  our  hearth- 
stone.    Economy  and  reasonable  limits  of  expenditure  have 
been  the  basis  upon  which  your  committee  has   proc^^eded. 
In  the  choice  of  location  this  had  a  large  influence  Wi  '^  it. 
We  thought  it  better  to  be  located  pretty  well  down  town     n 
the  vicinity  of  respectable   boarding  houses,  where  young 
Canadian   clerks,   mechanics,  and   employees  generally  are 
located,  so  that  ixv  the    evening,    and   during  Sundays  and 
holidays,  there  might  be  some   pleasant  and  cheerful  resort, 
where  our   countrymen    would    find   pleasant  companions  ; 
where  the  publications  of  our  native  land  could   be  found 
and  read  ;  and  where  the  leading  periodicals  of  Great  Britain 
could  be  scanned.     The  cheerful  room,  brilliantly  lighted, 
with  open  fire,  attractive  companions  ;  a  game  of  billiards, 


«l 


8 


The  Canadian  Club  : 


and  an  innocent  game  of  cards  ;  good  company  ;  and,  above 
all,  a  sympathetic  and  cordial  spirit,  are  surely  something 
to  provide  for  those  who,  in  the  proverbial  boarding  house, 
find  scant  comfort  in  narrow  rooms,  isolated  and  alone  ;  or 
who  wander  aimlessly  through  the  streets  of  this  great  city, 
tempted  at  every  turn  to  some  departure  from  the  rigid  paths 
of  rectitude.  Surely  some  such  shelter,  as  in  these  com- 
modious rooms  we  can  afford,  will  be  a  blessing  to  th  se 
who  are  enabled  to  occupy  them.  The  solitude  of  great  cities, 
the  isolation  of  strangers,  the  utter  indifference  that  exists 
as  to  the  occupation  or  employment  of  the  leisure  moments 
of  those  who  are  taxed  during  business  hours,  has  often  oc- 
cupied the  minds  of  thoughtful  philanthropists  ;  and  I  am 
proud  to  be  one  of  the  number  who,  for  the  sake  of  our  own 
compatriots,  here  take  the  fir^t  step  to  provide  a  place  of 
resort  where  gooa  books,  good  newspapers,  innocent  games, 
and  good  companionship,  free  from  vice  or  tempation,  can 
be  afforded.  This  is  one  of  the  objects  which  the  Club  has 
in  view,  and  if,  even  to  a  limited  extent,  it  can  afford  all  the 
pleasures  of  club  life  for  a  limited  sum,  with  all  the  delights 
of  sociability  and  acquaintance,  surely  one  great  and  good 
object  will  be  accomplished. 

Knowing  something,  as  I  do,  of  the  occupations  which 
Canadians  in  this  city  pursue,  of  the  infinite  variety  of  em- 
ployments and  responsibilities  entrusted  to  ihem,  I  can 
safely  say  that  there  is  no  State  in  the  Union,  nor  no  country 
in  Europe,  that  has  greater  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  pro- 
gress of  her  sons,  than  has  Canada  of  the  position  achieved 
by  its  residents  here.  There  is  hardiy  a  department  of  com- 
merce in  this  city,  hardly  an  establishment  of  importance  ; 
there  is  hardly  success  achieved,  but  somehow  or  another  a 
Canadian  has  a  hand  in  it.  indeed,  it  has  got  in  the  minds 
of  some  leading  people  to  be  almost  an  axiom  that  Canadians, 


f 


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Its  Purpose  and  Policy.  g 

as  a  rule,  are  not  only  reliable,  steady,  and  honest,  but,  by 
the  peculiarity  of  their  training,  their  thrift  and  capacity, 
they  are  peculiarly  fitted  to  occupy  positions  of  very  great 
trust  and  responsibility.  If  you  look  among  the  hardest 
workers  in  the  great  field  of  metropolitan  journalism  in  this 
city,  you  will  find  the  men  who  are  most  respected  and  most 
relied  upon,  are  Canadians.  If  you  look  among  the  insur- 
ance companies,  you  will  find  that  among  the  men  who  do 
the  detail  of  the  work,  and  on  whose  judgment  reliance  can 
be  placed,  there  will  be  found  Canadians,  If  in  Wall  Street, 
in  banking,  probity,  reliability,  and  capacity  are  needed,  the 
Canadian  banks  and  their  excellent  representatives  occupy  a 
position  of  the  highest  regard.  Among  the  judges,  in  tele- 
graphic circles,  in  railroads,  mercantile  or  professional  pur- 
suits, there  will  be  found,  if  not  always  brilliancy,  certain 
reliability,  promptitude,  and  efficiency,  excelled  by  the  repre- 
sentatives of  no  other  community.  This  much  can  be  said, 
that,  while  Canada  has  been  made  the  last  refuge  of  tl  ose 
who  forfeit  the  trusts  devolving  upon  them  in  this  country, 
and  to  a  certain  extent  has  suffered  in  reputation  by  its  con- 
tiguity to  the  great  Republic,  it  has  yet  to  be  revealed  that, 
among  the  vast  number  who  have  forfeited  the  confidence 
of  their  employers,  or  of  the  community,  there  has  been 
a  single  Canadian.  Though  there  are  good  and  bad  in  all 
communities,  and  the  taint  of  human  depravity  exists  ca  ery- 
■  where,  yet,  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  Canada,  may  it  be  said, 
that  out  of  the  vast  representation  which  she  has,  not  only 
in  New  York,  but  throughout  the  United  Spates,  not  a  single 
instance  has  occurred  showing  a  breach  of  trust,  the  em- 
bezzlement o'  a  single  dollar,  or  the  forfeiture  <  f  confidence 
in  the  slighwCSt  degree.  On  the  contrary,  it  may  be  safely 
said  that  the  representatives  of  no  other  community,  in 
proportion  to  its  numbers,  stand  higher  in  the  regard  of  their 
employers  and  their  associates  than  do  the  Canadians  and 


TO 


The  Canadian  Club  : 


former  residents  of  Canada,   now  resident   in   the   United 
States. 

Under  such  circumstances,  I  may,  I  think,  with  a  great 
sense  of  congratulation,  feel  proud  to  be  able  to  welcome 
you  here  to-night,  as  the  first  organization  of  a  distinctive 
nationality,  having  for  its  purpose  the  promotion  of  our  com- 
mon interests,  the  improvement  of  our  social  relations,  the 
enlargement  of  our  acquaintance  with  each  other,  a  health- 
ful effort  to  assist  those  who  need  assistance,  and  to  guide 
and  direct  others  who  are  to  join  us  hereafter  in  pursuit  of  a 
career  of  usefulness  and  fortune  in  this  country.  And  here 
I  would  be  doing  a  great  injustice,  did  I  fail  to  recognize 
the  hearty  spirit  of  good  will  with  which,  in  this  noble 
country,  all  efforts  for  efficient  service  are  received  and  wel- 
comed. The  treatment"  of  Canadians  by  Americans,  so  far 
as  my  observation  has  gone,  has  been  characterized  by  the 
greatest  possible  liberality  and  appreciation.  The  success  of 
Canadians  in  the  United  States  is  the  best  evidence  of  this. 
The  spirit  of  liberty  and  equality,  which  welcomes  to  its 
shores  the  natives  of  every  clime,  by  the  people,  especially  of 
this  great  city,  has  been  fully  exemplified  by  the  way  in 
which  Canadians  have  been  treated,  and  the  hearty  good  will 
with  which  their  efforts  as  employees  and  business  men  have 
been  met.  Not  the  least  indication  of  this  has  been  the 
cordiality  extended  to  the  effort  made  in  the  formation  of 
this  Club,  and  the  kind  words  of  encouragement  which  have 
been  uttered  by  the  press  and  leading  men  with  whom  we 
have  come  in  contact. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  Canadian  Club  will  afford  a  means  of 
communication  betwet  i  Canadians  and  former  residents  of 
Canada,  in  this  city;  and  that  being,  as  it  will,  a  central 
organization,  it  will  afford  a  tie  between  them  which,  though 
slender  and  of  delicate  character,  will  nevertheless  be  effect- 


Its  Purpose  and  Policy, 


II 


ive  in  making  them  better  acquainted  with  each  other.  It 
will,  perhaps,  be  thus  able  to  bring  together,  for  the  benefit 
of  each  other,  men  who  otherwise  would  have  proceeded  in 
their  respective  paths  without  the  benefits  which  the  experi- 
ences of  each  ocher  might  have  afforded,  had  contact  been 
permitted.  Thus,  wliile  individually  this  may  be  useful,  col- 
lectively the  organization  may  achieve  a  still  larger  u:eful- 
ness,  especially  in  relation  to  subjects  peculiar  to  Canada,  to 
be  discussed  in  this  country.  Suggestions  and  ideas  may  be 
given  shape  and  form,  which  otherwise  would  have  lain  dor- 
mant. By  the  creation  of  committees,  whose  special  duties 
shall  be  the  pursuit  of  some  distinctive  class  of  information, 
and  the  publication  of  such  facts  as  can  be  elicited,  the  Club 
may  be  made  very  useful  in  the  creation  and  formation  of 
public  opinion  upon  matters  relating  purely  to  Canada. 
Some  intelligent  source  of  statistics,  facts  and  circumstances 
in  relation  to  Canada,  a  library  of  reference  in  relation  to 
Canadian  matters,  an  accumulation  of  public  journals,  and, 
above  all,  intelligent  Canadian  opinion,  may  be  focussed  at 
this  point  for  the  benefit  of  journalists  in  this  country. 
Public  men,  members  of  Congress,  or  others  who  desire  to 
discuss  subjects  in  relation  to  Canada  intelligently,  and  with 
a  full  understanding  of  the  subject,  can  here  be  met ;  so  that, 
aside  from  the  social  element,  and  the  provision  for  mutual 
acquaintance  and  the  promotion  of  each  other's  interests,  we 
may,  to  a  certain  extent,  aspire  to  the  promulgation  of  better 
and  larger  information  regarding  our  own  country,  and  a 
greater  degree  of  intelligence  on  subjects  which,  in  this 
country,  chiefly  concern  it. 

There  are,  however,  numerous  details  of  usefulness,  which, 
as  time  passes,  the  Club  and  its  members  will  develope.  One 
of  these  special  details  I  beg  now  to  suggest.  It  is  that 
the  walls  of  this  beautiful  room,  which  are  admirably  adapted 


12 


The  Canadian   Club  : 


for  the  purpose,  should  be  devoted,  during  the  autumn 
months,  to  an  exhibition  of  the  works  of  Canadian  artists. 
The  glorious  scenery  of  our  native  land,  the  gorgeous  tints 
of  its  autumnal  wood>,  as  depicted  by  its  artistic  sons  and 
daughters,  might  find  place  within  our  Myalls,  to  be  admired 
and  purchased  by  the  residents  of  this  great  city,  who,  in 
matters  of  art,  and  appreciation  of  all  that  is  beautiful,  in 
conception,  or  design,  have  always  evinced  a  spirit  of  the 
highest  liberality.  If  Canadian  art  could  but  have  a  chance 
to  impress  itself  favorably  upon  the  wealthy  picture  buyers  of 
this  wealthy  city,  and  the  names  of  well-known  Canadian 
artists  could  be  made  as  familiar  in  New  York  as  they  are  in 
Toronto,  Montreal,  and  Ottawa,  the  Club  would  have 
achieved  a  purpose  of  the  noblest  and  best  kind.  The 
pleasure  which  this  exhibition  of  Canadian  art  would  afford 
to  Canadians  themselves,  the  delight  which  the  artists  would 
have  in  the  thorough  appreciation  of  their  fellow-countrymen 
in  a  foreign  city,  and  the  ennobling  and  refining  influence 
which  such  an  exhibition  might  well  be  expected  to  convey, 
will  make  the  attempt  worthy  of  the  effort,  even  if  no  practi- 
cal and  financial  results  follow.  But,  in  addition  to  pictures, 
there  are  other  exhibitions  of  Canadian  artistic  skill,  which 
the  Club  might  well  encourage,  and  this  might  take  the  form, 
just  preceding  the  holidays,  of  a  large  collection  from  the 
Societies  of  Decorative  Art,  of  woman's  work,  which,  in 
Toronto  and  Montreal,  have  of  late  years  been  so  successml. 
There  is  no  reason  why,  among  the  pleasant  mementoes  of 
Christmas  time  in  New  York,  there  should  not  be  ennumbered 
contributions  from  the  nimble  fingers  and  artistic  skill  of  our 
Canadian  sisters.  Embroidery,  fancy  work,  sketches,  and 
all  those  dlightful  conceits  of  woman's  leisure  and  woman's 
love,  might  well  afford  an  exhibition  in  New  York,  of  the 
refinement,  skill,  and  taste  of  Canadian  women.  The  club 
rooms  could  not  be  better  employed  during  the  day-time,  and 


Its  Purpose  and  Policy, 


^3 


with  an  occasional  ladies'  day,  extending  far  into  the  evening, 
than  in  affording  accommodation,  and  opportunity  for  sale, 
of  the  handiwork  of  our  dear  Canadian  girls. 

Other  and  larger  conceptions  of  the  advantages  and  duties 
of  the  Club,  will,  however,  present  themselves.  It  will  be 
sufficient  for  me  to  simply  say  to  you  how  heartily  welcome 
you  all  are  to-night ;  with  what  pleasurable  anticipations  we 
may  look  forward  to  an  enjoyment  of  each  other's  society  ; 
and  to  the  conviction,  in  my  own  mind,  that  the  usefulness 
of  our  lives,  the  completeness  and  faithfulness  of  cr  service, 
and  the  growth  within  us  of  all  that  is  manly  and  best,  will 
be  promoted  by  an  a  sociation  in  which  mutual  forbearance, 
hearty  appreciation,  and  a  better  knowledge  of  each  other, 
such  as  I  think  may  safely  be  expected  to  flow  from  the  for- 
mation of  the  Canadian  Club. 

I  have  already  referred  gratefully  to  the  abundant  oppor- 
tunity afforded  Canadians  in  the  United  States,  for  the  pur- 
suit of  fortune  and  fame,  and  the  liberal  and  hearty  good 
will  with  which  Americans  have  admitted  us  to  a  generous 
rivalry  with  themselves  in  this  pursuit.  But,  may  we  not  be 
permitted  to  contemplate  with  pride,  the  position  which  our 
own  dear  land  occupies.  Side  by  side  with  this  glorious 
Republic,  Canada  is  working  out  the  noble  problem  of  self 
government.  The  marvelous  success  which  in  the  Southern 
part  of  this  vast  continent  has  attended  "the  government 
of  the  People,  for  the  People,  by  the  People,"  is  not  more 
marked  than  is  the  success,  which,  in  the  regions  of  the 
North,  attends  the  pursuit  of  Liberty,  Law  and  Equality,  by 
the  People,  under  a  different  form  of  government,  but  with 
results  equally  beneficent.  It  is  quite  the  common  thing  to 
believe  that  in  the  United  States  alone  is  being  demonstrated 
the  possibility  of  self  government  in  its  highest  form,  and 
that  the  experiment  on  the  scale  of  which  it  is  our  good  for- 


H 


The  Canadian  Club  : 


tune  to  witness,  of  a  vast  nation  self-regulated,  self-poised, 
and  with  good  reason,  self-confident,  is  the  only  experiment 
where  unqualified  success  is  achieved.  It  is  quite  common 
to  believe  that  no  well  regulated  country  can  put  up  with  the 
trappings  of  royalty,  and  that  monarchies,  and  other  indica- 
tions of  effete  despotisms,  must  disappear  in  a  free  country, 
before  a  free  people,  who  can  assert  their  own  progress  and 
their  own  freedom.  But  in  our  beloved  Canada,  the  spec- 
tacle is  presented  of  a  progressive  and  self-reliant  people, 
enjoying  the  largest  degree  of  liberty,  with  a  voice  in  the 
government  just  as  potent  as  in  this  country,  and  yet  who 
yield  a  hearty  allegiance  to  a  form  of  government  as  old  as 
the  monarchy  of  England  itstlf,  and  against  which  it  was 
thought  essential  that  the  fathers  of  this  country  should 
make  their  great  Declaration  of  Independence.  It  is  true 
that  the  influences  of  that  Declaration  upon  all  nations  of 
the  World  have  been  beyond  all  calculation,  and  that  the 
freedom  of  Canada  from  interference  from  England,  and  the 
liberality  with  which,  by  the  Home  Government,  she  has 
been  treated,  are  directly  traceable  to  the  influences  set  in 
motion  by  the  wise  and  patriotic  statesmen,  who  set  afloat, 
on  an  unknown  sea,  the  ship  of  state,  under  whose  flag  we 
safely  live  and  thrive.  With  the  acknowledgment  to  the 
United  States  of  the  example  set,  and  the  influences  put 
in  motion  at  their  instance,  it  nevertheless  can  be  claimed 
for  Canada  that,  in  her  own  way,  with  circumstances  so 
peculiar,  and  with  a  geographical  position  far  less  favorable, 
she  has  made  a  progress  in  Government,  in  Legislation,  in 
Law,  in  Science,  in  Art,  and  in  development  of  material 
resources,  equal  to  that  of  any  country  in  the  world.  When 
it  is  recalled  that  the  Dominion  occupies  a  portion  of  the 
continent  quite  as  large  as  that  of  the  United  States,  with 
the  disadvantages  of  a  lack  of  variety  in  her  products,  with 
which  the   United   States  is  favored,   her  progress,  when 


^ 


WW 


Its  Purpose  and  Policy,  /j 

placed  side  by  side  with  this  country,  is  remarkable.  Her 
ships,  from  the  Maritime  Provinces,  whiten  every  sea  with 
their  sails  ;  her  fisheries  are  the  envy  of  her  neighbors  ;  her 
banking  institutions  are  the  largest,  the  richest,  and  the 
soundest  on  the  continent ;  her  canals  and  waterways  are  the 
grandest  in  the  world ;  her  railways  rival  those  of  every 
other  country  in  their  length,  extent,  and  amplitude  of  com- 
munication. Just  think  of  that  magnificent  stretch  of  iron 
bands,  extending  from  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic,  at  Halifax, 
to  Quebec,  in  the  Inter-colonial  line ;  the  magnitude  of  the 
region  covered  by  the  Grand  Trunk  system,  with  its  com- 
plete and  efficient  service ;  and  above  all,  the  splendid 
achievements  in  the  Canadian  Pacific,  which,  unlike  any 
Pacific  Trunk  Line  in  the  United  States,  running  only  from 
the  centre  to  the  circumference  of  the  continent,  this  mag- 
nificent work  stretches  from  ocean  to  ocean,  under  one  con- 
trol, and  one  impulse.  The  completion  of  the  Canadian 
Pacific  marks  the  day  when  a  great  nation,  already  born  and 
well  nurtured,  takes  on  its  manhood.  For  then  has  been 
attained  a  period  when  its  whole  vast  area  is  brought  within 
easy  and  immediate  reach;  and  means  of  communication, 
which  is  the  highest  attribute  and  outcome  of  civilization, 
will  be  possible  for  the  promotion  of  man's  best  interests  in 
time  of  peace,  and,  as  we  recently  have  seen,  for  his  protec- 
tion in  time  of  war. 

But  not  alone  in  railways  is  our  noble  country  well  served, 
but  in  all  else  that  relates  to  progress.  Her  telegraph  sys- 
tem is  the  most  complete  in  the  world,  affording  a  service 
greater  and  cheaper  than  elsewhere  ;  her  postal  system,  com- 
bined with  savings  banks,  is  the  most  comprehensive.  Her 
progress  in  all  the  Arts,  in  her  Universities,  her  Law  Schools, 
her  great  and  pure  Judiciary,  her  enterprise  in  newspapers, 
and  above  all,  the  unimpeachable  character  of  the  rank  and 


i6 


The  Canadian  Club. 


file  of  her  public  men.  But  I  have  said  enough  to  recall  to 
you  the  many  things  of  which,  as  Canadians,  we  may  be 
proud,  while  living  in  this,  our  adopted  land,  enabling  us 
with  more  than  accustomed  fervor  and  earnestness  to  say : 

**  Lives  there  a  man  with  soul  so  dead, 
Who  never  to  himself  hath  said,  ' 
This  is  my  own,  my  native  land  !" 


